Rear axle



Feb. 5

O. M. NACKER REAR AXLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 4 1917 Feb.5 1924.

- 0. M. NACKER REAR AXLE Original Filed June 4, 1917 2 SheetsSheetcompanying drawings.

Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

OWEN mnacxna, 0E DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AS SIG NOR 0F ONE-HALE TO ALANSON1?.

BRUSH, or DETROIT, Mrc'HIelm."

\ BEAR AXLE.

/ Application filed June 4, 1917, Serial No. 1' ?2,815. Renewed December3, 1920. serial No. 428,153.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'OWEN M. .NAGKER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the county of "Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RearAxles, of which the following is a specification, eference being hadtherein 'to the ac The invention relates to axle constructions for motorvehicles of that type provided with a torque" arm pivotally connected to"the vehicle'frame and taking care of both "driving and braking torque..lVith such constructions the driving torque is due: to "tliejreactionof the bevelled'gear connection between the propeller-shaftand the liveaxle which is usually located centrallyof the axle housing." On theother hand, the braking torque is directly applied to theendsof the axlehousinfg'on which tliebrake-heads are located. Thuswhere the torque-armis con nected to the central portionof the axle housing itwill directlytake careof the "driving torque, but the braking torque, which is moresevere, must be transmitted through the axle housing from the endsthereof to center; This necessitates suflicient strength intheconstruction of the housing to safely carry the maximum brakingstresses." It is the primary object of the present invention tosimplify, cheapen and lighten the axle construction by employing a pairof torque arms connected to the axle near the opposite nds thereof andconverge.

111g as they extend forward to a common point, ofconnection to thevehicle frame. Thus the braking torque is transmitted directly to'thesetorque-arms without being carried through the central portion of theaxle housing, and as the maximum driving torque isalways less than themaximum braking torque the lighter axle housing will safely take care ofthe same.

" In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View construction Figure 2 isa side elevationthereof; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section in the plane of the axle."

sheet-metal construction.

of my improved nected with the brake-hieads B. These mem here D, asshown, are sleeved upon end portions of the housing A, which latter ispreferably formed of relatively light pressed F and F. V torque armspreferably of channel bar con struction, which at their rear ends arepro vided with means of attachment to the members D, such for instanceas the forginqs Gr having theparallel rods or furcations extendingthrough eyes in the members VD above and below the axle. The furcationsH may be threaded to engage clamping nuts 'I, by which they are securedto the members D. The forward portions of the torque arms ll F convergeand at their forward ends are attached to a tubular member J having alaterally-extending arm 7 K with a spherical end h. V The spherical"portion K is adapted for engagement with a socket upon-the frame andwill provide for universal pivotal movement of the torque arms inrelation thereto, L is the propeller-shaft which passes through thetubular member J and is provided with a universal joint M in transverseaxial alignment with the spherical member K. v

In use, whenever the brakes are applied the torque will be transmittedto the memhere D and carried directly therefrom through the bifurcatedmember H into the torque arms .F and F without passing through thecentral portion of the axle A. As this relieves the axle from violenttorque stresses it can be much lighter than where the arm is centrallyarranged.

What Iclaim as my invention is:

LVA vehicle axle, comprising a central portion formed of pressedsheet-metal, reinforced end portions for directly connecting with thebrake-heads, and Ya 'pair' of torque arms connected to said reinforcedportions converging forwardly and having a are.

common point for connection with the ve hicle frame.

2. A vehicle axle, comprising a central portion formed of pressedsheet-metal, reinforced end portions for direct connection to thebrake-heads, a air of torque arms connected to said reinforced portionsand converging forwardly, a tubular member connected to the forward endsof said torque member, a propeller shaft passing through said tubularmember, and an arm extending laterally from said tubular member forpivotal connection with the frame. v

- '3. A vehicle axle, comprising a pressed sheet-metal" housing havingan enlarged central portion and tapering end portions, reinforcingmembers engaging sald end portions andconnected directly to thebrakeheads, a pair of channel section torque-arms respectively conneptedto said reinforcing members, the forward portions of said [torque armsconverging, a tubular member embraced by the forward ends of said torquerespectively. connected to said reinforcing.

connection with the vehicle frame.

-1 5. A vehicle. axle comprising a pressed sheet-metal housing having anenlargedcem tral portion and tapering end portions, reinforc'ing membersengaging said. end portions and connecting directly to the brakeheads, apair of channel section torque-arms members, the forward portions ofsaid torque-arms converging and being secured to each other, apropeller-shaft passing through the attached portions ofsaid torque-armsand an arm extending laterally from said torque-arms terminating in aspherical portion for pivotal engagement with the ve-' hicle frame.

6. A vehicle axle, comprising a central portion formed of pressedsheet-metal, reinforced end portions for direct connection to thebrake-heads, provided with eyes at their lower and upper sides, and apair of torque arms connected to said reinforced portions and extendingforwardly for connection with the frame, said arms being provided-withfurcations for engaging the respective eyes in said reinforced endportions.

"7. The combination with a vehicle axle,

comprisin .a central portion formed of pressed s eet-metal, a brake-headat the outer end thereof, and a reinforcing member between saidbrake-head and central portion, of a torque arm connected to saidreinforcing member and adapted for connection with the vehicle frame.

8. A vehicle axle comprising a housing for the differential mechanismand live axle, provided at each end with a brake head, a member forconnection with a vehicle frame at a point thereof and convergent torquearms each rigidly connected to the member and toa brake head 9. Avehicle axle, comprising a housing for the differentialinechanismandliveaxle having. reinforced end'portions on each of which abrake head issecured, convergent torque arms each rigidly secured to a brake 7 head.by the companion reinforcement and a member for pivot connection withthe vehicle frame held in rigid spaced relation to the housin by thetorque arms.

10. A veliicle axle, comprising a housing for the difierential mechanismand live axle provided at each end witha brake head,

convergent torque arms each rigidly connected to a brake head andalongitudinally apertured member transversely disposed to the housing andsecured in spaced relation thereto by the torque arms, the memberforming a pivot connection for-attachment to the frame ofthe vehicle.

11. A vehicle axle, comprising an axle housing having brake heads at theopposite ends thereof and a pair of torque arms rigidly connected .tosaid brake heads and provided with a common means of connection with avehicle frame at'the forward convergent'ends. 1 c :h r r .12. Arvehicleaxle, comprising a fital body formed of pressed sheet metal, reinforcedend. portions, brake heads secured on the end portions, a pair of torquearmsrigidly secured to said reinforced portions, a tubular memberconnected to the forward convergent end portions of the torque arms andan arm extending laterally from said tubular member for pivotalconnectionwith the vehicle frame.

1 .13. A vehicle axle, comprising a pressed tral portion andtapering'end portions for housing the differential mechanism and liveaxle, a reinforcing member sleeived'on each end portion, brake headsdirectly secured to the reinforcements, a pair of torque arms eachconnected at one end to areinforcing member a tubular membertransverselydisposed to the housingandsecured inspaced relation thereto: by the:forward convergent end portions of the torque arms, and a let erallyextending arm on said tubular member having a spherical'portion forpivotal engagement with the vehicle frame.

14. A vehicle axle, comprising a central sheet metal housing having anenlarged cen sheet metal portion with oppositely extending end portions,reinforcements sleeved on said end portions, brake heads secured to thereinforced portions and a pair of torque arms connected to thereinforced portions and extending forwardly and convergently forconnection with the vehicle frame, said arms each being provided withfnrcations engaging eyes formed in the lower and up per sides of areinforcement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OWEN M. NACKER.

